Guzmania plant named ‘DESIRE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named ‘DESIRE’ characterized by a solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 40 to 50 cm in height (above the pot when flowering), numerous green color foliage (measuring about 45 cm in length and about 4.0 to 4.5 cm in width), and superior floral bract production. Bracts have a unique yellow inflorescence (RHS 13A), compound inflorescence (measuring about 15 cm in height and about 20 cm in diameter), and long-lasting habit. The new variety is a Guzmania, typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus: Guzmania hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘DESIRE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid cultivar of Guzmania plant, botanically known as Guzmania hybrida, of the family Bromeliaceae, and hereinafter referred to as ‘DESIRE’. Guzmania is native to tropical America. Guzmania is predominantly epiphytic with a few terrestrial species and is native to the tropics. For the most part, species vary in diameter from 7 or 8 inches to 3 or 4 feet and have rosettes of glossy, smooth-edged leaves. Floral bracts of Guzmania frequently have brilliant colors and may last for many months. The range of colors for Guzmania is generally from yellow through orange but may also include flame red and red-purple. White or yellow, tubular, three-petalled flowers may also appear on a stem or within the leaf rosette but are usually short-lived. Guzmania may be advantageously grown as pot plants for greenhouse or home use. Typically, the plants are shaded from direct sunlight. During the spring to autumn period, the central vase-like part of the leaf rosette is normally filled with water.

The new Guzmania ‘DESIRE’ was discovered and selected by the inventors in a research greenhouse during 2011 as a single flowering plant in a controlled breeding program in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The new Guzmania ‘DESIRE’ originated from a naturally occurring mutation of Guzmania (hybrid) ‘OSTARA’ (unpatented).

Asexual reproduction of the new Guzmania cultivar was first performed by off-shoots beginning in 2017 and then by tissue culture beginning in 2018 in Assendelft, The Netherlands, with first flowering after asexual reproduction occurring in 2020 in Assendelft, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the Guzmania ‘DESIRE’ has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

Methods for cultivation and crossing of Guzmania are well known. For a detailed discussion, reference is made to the following publications, which are incorporated herein by reference: Benzing, David H., THE BIOLOGY OF THE BROMELIADS, Mad River Press, Inc., Eureka (1980); Zimmer, Karl, BROMELIEN, Verlag, Paul Parey', Berlin (1986); and Rauh, Werner, BROMELIEN, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (1981).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘DESIRE’ which in combination distinguish this Guzmania as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Solid growth habit.     -   2. Funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 40 to 50 cm in         height (above the pot when flowering).     -   3. Numerous, green colored foliage, measuring about 45 cm in         length and about 4.0 to 4.5 cm in width.     -   4. Superior floral bract production.     -   5. Unique yellow inflorescence (RHS Yellow 13A).     -   6. Compound inflorescence, measuring from about 15 cm in height         and about 20 cm in diameter.     -   7. Long-lasting habit.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants the new Guzmania hybrid ‘DESIRE’ are similar to plants of ‘OSTARA’ in many horticultural characteristics. The new variety however produces yellow bracts whereas the parent variety produces orange-red bracts.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Guzmania ‘DESIRE’ is the cultivar ‘HILDA’ (unpatented). In comparison to ‘HILDA’ the inflorescences, leaves and plant shape of ‘DESIRE’ are more compact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Guzmania hybrid ‘DESIRE’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘DESIRE’. The accompanying figure illustrates a typical flowering plant of ‘DESIRE’, at 12 months of age from potting size.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘DESIRE’ has not been tested and observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, frequency of fertilization, composition of fertilizer, flowering treatment, day length and humidity, without any change in the genotype of the plant. For example, substantial differences in plant height and diameter, number of leaves, can result depending on the size of the plant at the time that flowering is induced by flowering treatment. Since treatment to induce flowering disrupts normal watering and fertilization regimens, flowering treatment of relatively smaller plants adversely affects the growth of the plant. The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Guzmania ‘DESIRE’ as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of ‘DESIRE’ were grown in a greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 23° C. No artificial lighting or photoperiodic treatments were conducted, but plants of ‘DESIRE’ are forced into flowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of ‘DESIRE’: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1 parts magnesium. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of ‘DESIRE’ described is about 17 weeks after flowering treatment.

-   Botanical Classification: Guzmania hybrida.

PLANT

-   Height: About 40 to 50 cm (when flowering). -   Width: About 75 cm. -   Shape: Funnel form rosette. -   Growth habit: Stemless. -   Plant vigor: Good. -   Flowering season: A fully grown plant can flower year-round,     starting 17 weeks after induction of natural light or through     flowering treatment. -   Cold tolerance: Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may damage     plants. -   Fragrance: None.

FOLIAGE

-   Quantity: About 18 (depending on the size of the plant). -   Size of leaf:     -   -   Length.—About 45 cm (when flowering).         -   Width.—About 4.0 to 4.5 cm. -   Overall shape: Linear-lanceolate. -   Apex shape: Acuminate. -   Base shape: Strap-like around central axis. Sheath about 5 cm wide,     colored near Green 137D. -   Margin: Entire. -   Texture (both surfaces): Smooth. -   Orientation: Leaf blades arch continuously from base. -   Color: Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on growing conditions.     -   -   Immature.—Upper surface: RHS Green 137A. Under surface: RHS             Green 137A.         -   Mature.—Upper surface: RHS Green 137A. Under surface: RHS             Green 137A. -   Venation: Indistinguishable from leaf blade. -   Anthocyanin at leaf base: Absent

INFLORESCENCE

-   Borne: Erect stalks. -   Shape: Compound. -   Size:     -   -   Length.—About 15 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 20 cm. -   Time of bloom: A fully grown plant can produce an inflorescence     containing about 60 flowers (depending on the size of the plants),     and can bloom the whole year starting about 17 weeks after natural     induction or through flowering treatment. -   Duration of bloom: Each flower blooms one (1) day and the total     blooming of the whole inflorescence is about 5 weeks. -   Flowers: Not visible during anthesis. -   Petals:     -   -   Number.—3 per flower.         -   Length.—About 6.0 cm.         -   Width.—About 0.5 cm.         -   Overall shape.—Ligulate.         -   Apex shape.—Obtuse.         -   Base shape.—Fused.         -   Color.—Upper and Under surfaces: RHS Yellow 4D and             Yellow-Orange 15A. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number.—3 per flower.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 0.5 cm.         -   Overall shape.—Ligulate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Fused.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow 4D.

BRACTS

-   Scape bracts:     -   -   Quantity.—About 11.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Position.—About middle third.         -   Size.—Length: About 27 cm (lowest) to about 18 cm (scape             bracts positioned just below the primary bracts). Width:             About 4.0 cm.         -   Overall shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS Green 137A with Yellow 13B. Scape             bracts which are closer to the primary bracts show more             Yellow 13B. Lowermost scape bracts are mainly Green 137A             with base Yellow 13B. Mid-section scape bracts are Green             137A along approximately ⅓ of distance from apex and Yellow             13B on basal ⅔ section. Uppermost scape bracts are Yellow             13B with an apex of Green 137A. Under surface: RHS Green             137A with Yellow 13B. Scape bracts which are closer to the             primary bracts show more Yellow 13B. -   Floral bracts/primary bracts:     -   -   Quantity.—About 14.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Size.—Length: About 13.5 cm (lowest) to about 8 cm (closest             to top of plant). Width: About 3.0 cm.         -   Overall shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Curvature.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Upper and Under surfaces: RHS Yellow 13A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:     -   -   Stamen.—Number: 6 per flower. Length: About 4.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: RHS Yellow 4D.         -   Anther.—Length: About 0.5 cm. Color: RHS Yellow 4D.         -   Pollen.—None. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil.—Number: 1 per flower. Length: About 5.5 cm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: 3-parted. Width: About 3 mm. Color: Near RHS             Yellow 9B.         -   Style.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow 9B.         -   Ovary.—Position: Superior. Shape: Conical. Length: About             0.8 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green             150D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds/fruit: Sterile hybrid, therefore, no seed or fruit produced. -   Disease/pest resistance: No observations made. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No observations made. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named ‘DESIRE’ as herein illustrated and described. 